What is an Affinity Space? At SCT, we're here to offer creative spaces for students that celebrate every personal intersection and identity! Our Affinity Spaces, include camps & classes offered specifically for those who identify as BIPOC or LGBTQ+.
These experiences are led by a range of leading industry professionals who guide students to creative discoveries within their explored identity. Meet your Summer 2021 Affinity leaders and learn more about their classes below!
SUMMER 2021 AFFINITY CAMPS & CLASSES
MASTERCLASS: ART OF DRAG (AFFINITY & ALLY SPACE)
Join us to celebrate the Art of Drag! Each day this inclusive class will dive into the history and cultural significance of Drag Performance while students work to create a drag persona with a variety of looks. This class will have you looking and feeling great in the skin you're in! This class is for students who identify as LGBTQ+ or as an ally in order for students to create in a safe space.
Join us to celebrate the Art of Drag! Each day this inclusive class will dive into the history and cultural significance of Drag Performance while students work to create a drag persona with a variety of looks. This class will have you looking and feeling great in the skin you're in! This class is for students who identify as LGBTQ+ or as an ally in order for students to create in a safe space.
RE-IMAGINE TRIPLE THREAT (AFFINITY SPACE)
Learn how to combine acting, singing, and dancing to become the ultimate triple threat. In this virtual class, students will work with two teaching artists and explore musical theatre techniques through performance. This class is for students who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color in order to explore roles written for them in a supportive space. This class is a virtual class and may be structured to include tasks away from a computer screen to allow for independent learning during instruction.
Learn how to combine acting, singing, and dancing to become the ultimate triple threat. In this virtual class, students will work with two teaching artists and explore musical theatre techniques through performance. This class is for students who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color in order to explore roles written for them in a supportive space. This class is a virtual class and may be structured to include tasks away from a computer screen to allow for independent learning during instruction.
MASTERCLASS - RE-IMAGINE AUDITION MONOLOGUES (AFFINITY SPACE)
Learn how to identify action and objective, dive into beat work, and explore the wide range of emotions an actor can experience while delivering a monologue. From creating show-stopping moments to booking the next gig, students will learn how the art of performing a monologue is one of the greatest tools in the actor's kit. This class is for students who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color in order to explore roles written for them in a supportive space.
Learn how to identify action and objective, dive into beat work, and explore the wide range of emotions an actor can experience while delivering a monologue. From creating show-stopping moments to booking the next gig, students will learn how the art of performing a monologue is one of the greatest tools in the actor's kit. This class is for students who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color in order to explore roles written for them in a supportive space.
RE-IMAGINE ACTING I (AFFINITY SPACE)
In this fast-paced class, we’ll be learning the fundamentals of acting through theatre games and exercises. We’ll tackle the question every actor must ask themselves: “What’s my objective?” This week, students celebrate plays and scenes written specifically for communities of color. This class is for students who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color in order to explore roles written for them in a supportive space.
In this fast-paced class, we’ll be learning the fundamentals of acting through theatre games and exercises. We’ll tackle the question every actor must ask themselves: “What’s my objective?” This week, students celebrate plays and scenes written specifically for communities of color. This class is for students who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color in order to explore roles written for them in a supportive space.
RE-IMAGINE PLAYWRITING (AFFINITY SPACE)
Let’s ignite the power of storytelling and creativity! Students will learn fundamentals of playwriting like structure, plot, character development, and dialogue, through creative exercises that ignite imagination and storytelling. This class is for students who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color in order to explore plays written for them in a supportive space.
Let’s ignite the power of storytelling and creativity! Students will learn fundamentals of playwriting like structure, plot, character development, and dialogue, through creative exercises that ignite imagination and storytelling. This class is for students who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color in order to explore plays written for them in a supportive space.
MASTERCLASS - POETRY FOR THE PEOPLE
If telling your truth and expressing yourself fills your soul with music, then get ready to explore the art of Spoken Word, a form at the intersection of poetry and hip-hop. Poets are first and foremost storytellers, who add in sleek rhymes and clever intonations to bring their words alive. Students will learn how to craft their own poems and practice performing them for a group of their peers.
If telling your truth and expressing yourself fills your soul with music, then get ready to explore the art of Spoken Word, a form at the intersection of poetry and hip-hop. Poets are first and foremost storytellers, who add in sleek rhymes and clever intonations to bring their words alive. Students will learn how to craft their own poems and practice performing them for a group of their peers.
MEET YOUR SUMMER 2021 AFFINITY SPACE INSTRUCTORS
 | What they're teaching: Poetry for the People Joel Francois is a Haitian-born, Brooklyn-raised storyteller, who wishes to share his vista as a black writer and tell stories of love, family, and race through that lens. He believes that the artist is the architect of humanity and writes in search of God, love, and community. Joel's writing is an act of personal healing as his ultimate goal is to do good work with little harm. He is the 2015 Nuyorican Grand Slam Champion, the 2016 and 2017 Bowery Grand Slam Champion, was listed as one of New York City’s top poets by Culture Trip, and earned a top 20 ranking in the 2016 Individual World Poetry Slam. Joel has dedicated the past three years to traveling the country and sharing his work. |
 | What they're teaching: Poetry for the People, Masterclass: Re-Imagine Triple Threat & Re-Imagine Playwriting Rudy Ramirez (they/them) is a Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist, director, deviser, and arts educator. An Arizona State University alumnus, Rudy's first artistic home was at Childsplay in Tempe, AZ, where they served as an ensemble member and teaching artist for a number of seasons. Some of their favorite Childsplay projects include The Yellow Boat, Tomas & the Library Lady (national tour), and The Smartest Girl in the World. Rudy then moved on to the east coast, where they began working as a teaching artist with a focus on devised work with young people that explores personal identity, origins, and worldview. To that end, they facilitated residencies through Ping Chong + Company's Secret Histories Education program in New Jersey and New York schools. Additionally, Rudy created and developed the Devised Theatre program, centering the same social justice themes and explorations, for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center's YASI: Young Artist Summer Intensive. Most recently, Rudy served as the Director of Education for The Magik Theatre in San Antonio, TX. Rudy firmly believes in the transformative power of storytelling, art-making, and theatre for all. |
 | What they're teaching: Re-Imagine Playwriting & Re-Imagine Audition Monologues Samip Raval (he/him) is a performer, director, and teacher. He has worked regionally at PlayMakers Rep, Arena Stage, Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, ACT Seattle, and internationally with PingPong Arts in China. He has worked with the Seattle Children's Theater as a Teaching Artist since 2018, and is excited to return to the classroom this summer! Education: UNC School of the Arts. |
 | What they're teaching: Masterclass: The Art of Drag Chip Sherman (they/them) has been performing in and outside the art of drag for 20+ years. In the theatre you may have seen them as a Core Company Member at ACT in our productions ofRomeo + Juliet, Christmas Carol, and Alex and Aris, and here at SCT in And In This Corner: Cassius Clay and most recently as the titular character in Corduroy. In drag you may have seen them moonlighting as Isis in and out of the drag duo, LüChi, in their resident weeklies at Rplace; TWINSday w/ LüChi, Thirsty Thursday w/ Mila Skyy, and Lashes w/ the Lashes Cast, at the Kremwerk Komplex; in their resident monthlies Noir w/ Skarlett Dior Black and London Bradshaw, and QiQi Cabaret w/ CarLarans. |
 | What they're teaching: Re-Imagine Acting I Dedra Woods (she/her) is an Actor/Storyteller/Creator/ and Change Agent. She has been working in the Seattle Arts scene since 2012. She has had the privilege to perform with several companies around Seattle including, Seattle Children’s Theater (Corduroy, The Little Prince), The WIlliams Project (A Bright Room Called Day, Small Craft Warnings, The Time of Your Life), Seattle Public Theater ( Fire Season), Intiman (WIld Horses, Wedding Band), Seattle Shakespeare Company (Medea), Upstart Crow (Bring Down the House, Richard III), and Book-It Repertory Theater (I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings), Arts West (An Octoroon, The Revolutionists). Dedra has also worked in television, film and as a voice over artist. She is the creator and curator of Artist's of Color in Seattle, AOC(S), a social media platform that celebrates Black, Indigenous and POC artists in Seattle and their work, while inviting everyone to bear witness to their humanity and artistry. AOC(S) strives to lift the voices of historically marginalized folx and support local Artists in the Seattle Area as well as engaging with Artists on the national scene. |
 | What they're teaching: Masterclass: Re-Imagine Triple Threat Anita Kuroiwa-Schiff has been part of the SCT family for the past 27 years. In addition to teaching Musical Theatre, she has choreographed over ten SCT Summerstage Shows. Four of these shows were also written and directed by her. Ms. Kuroiwa-Schiff founded the dance program at Seattle Academy and established two children’s dance companies (involving young performers - grades six through 12). She is currently on faculty at Seattle Academy. She recently retired from Seattle Central College after 25 years of teaching the only accredited dance course within the Seattle College system. Originally from Chicago, Ill., Ms.Kuroiwa-Schiff began her training with the Chicago City Ballet. Since then she has trained with Hubbard Street Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and Pacific NorthWest Ballet. Ms. Kuroiwa-Schiff often travels to France where she does additional training with the Paris International School of Dance. Ms.Kuroiwa-Schiff’s choreographic and teaching credits include working with such institutions as Seattle Repertory Theatre, The Group Theatre, Pacific Arts Center, Evergreen State College, Seattle Central College, NW Folklife, Seattle Contemporary Ballet, Paul Robeson Theatre, Langston Hughes Theatre, and Sphinx Dance Theatre. She has performed, choreographed and taught for over forty years in the greater Northwest. In January of 2020 Ms Kuroiwa-Schiff received the Foundation Award presented by “Seattle Dances” (Seattle’s leading dance magazine) for her contribution to dance education in the Pacific Northwest. |
 | What they're teaching: Masterclass: The Art of Drag Alexandra Kronz is a Seattle based teaching artist whose work spans playwriting, dance, choreography, drag and theatre. Their creative and pedagogical approaches are informed by their own lived experience, their passion for social justice, and their academic background in Socio-Linguistics and Psychology. Currently, Alexandra serves as Director of Education at The Shattered Glass Project where they just launched a professional development program for playwrights & directors facing gender-based career barriers. Recent work includes: teaching youth theatre workshops at the Rainbow Center Tacoma, acting in Dacha Theatre’s interactive digital play Secret Admirer, dancing for Lucille Jun in Velocity’s The Bridge Project, and writing/directing Wormwood, an original evening length play, at 18th & Union’s Springshot Festival. |
